Plastic roller skate



March 12, 1963 J. BUDD 3,081,106

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United States Patent 3,081,106 PLASTIC ROLLER SKATE John Budd, Eastford, Conn., assiguor to Brunswick-Union Inc., Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,316 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-1126) The present invention relates to roller skates and is concerned, more particularly, with a roller skate of new and improved design particularly adapted to be molded of synthetic plastic material.

The aim of the invention is to provide a novel skate structure which can be fabricated from synthetic plastic material and which utilizes the full benefit of the advantageous properties of available plastic materials such as moldabi'lity and light weight combined with toughness and Included in this aim is the provision of a skate structure having a minimum of parts so that it can be economically fabricated and assembled and which is pleasing and attractive in appearance.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a skate structure particularly suitable for use by young children and which can be utilized with a wide range of shoe sizes and wherein the size adjustment can be made easily and rapidly without the need for a wrench or other auxiliary tool.

after set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a skate embodying the invention during longitudinal size adjustment;

. FIG. 2 is a side view of the skate partly broken away and partly in section and with the wheels facing the viewer removed;

FIG. 3 is aplan View of the skate;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the skate;

FIG. 5 is an end View of the rear truck of the skate partly in section; and

FIG. 6 is an inner end view of the front truck of the skate.

The embodiment of the skate of the present invention shown in the drawings comprises two main assemblies which are referred to herein as the front truck assembly 10 and the rear truck assembly 11. The body portion of each assembly as set forth more fully hereinafter is formed as a single and one-piece unitary structure which can be molded of synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene or nylon.

urning first to the front truck assembly 10, it will be seen that it comprises a generally tubular frame 12.having flat sidewalls -13 terminating at the forward end in upwardly and" forwardly incline-d front edges 14. Extending across the bottom of the frame between the sidewalls 13 and spaced above the lower apex of the frame is a transverse web 15 forming a weight-bearing surface for engagement with the axle 16. A second web 17 extends around the bottom of the frame and is curved under the axle 16 to form a retainer therefor. The notches 18 are merely withdrawal notches to facilitate the molding process. The axle 16 is striated at its center portion as indicated at 19 and is dimensioned so that it will form a 3,081,106 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 tight non-rotatable fit in the seat provided between the webs 15 and 17 with the ends of the axle projecting outwardly through the apertures 20. The wheels 21 which also may be made of plastic are retained and mounted on the ends of the axle 16 by means of the combination hubcap and bearing members 22 which are non-rotatably engaged on the knurled ends 23 of the axle.

The sidewalls '13 and web 15 merge into a rearwardly extending and integral tubular projection 24 which is slightly tapered and is gradually rounded off toward the rear to provide a generally elliptical cross section. Integrally formed at the top of the frame 12'and forming a continuation of the top surface of projection 24 is a platform 25 for supporting the front portion of the shoe of the user. The platform 25 has a generally circular forward edge 26 and is ribbed on its underside as indi cated at 27 and provided with a flange 28 along its rearward edge for strengthening purposes and also for enhancing the appearance of the assembly. The top surface of the toe platform 25 and of the projection 24 are grooved longitudinally as indicated at 29 to form a roughened surface for contact with the shoe of the user.

At the forward portion of the platform 25 there is provided a shoe retainer in the form of an integral web 30 which extends upwardly and curves slightly inwardly from the arcuate forward side edges of the platform 25 and has a somewhat flattened center portion 30' for extension across the toe of the shoe of the user. The web 30 provides a concave seat flaring outwardly and expanding rearwardly from the semi-elliptical opening 31 and by reason 1 of its shape, will provide a snug fit with a wide range of shoe sizes.

As previously mentioned, the frame 12 with its rearward tubular projection, the platform 25 and shoe retainer 30 are all combined in a single molded unit of synthetic plastic material which provides a rugged and relatively stiff yet resilient structure of light weight. It also will be understood that selected dyes or other coloring matter may be included in the plastic to provide a desired permanent color, enhancing the attractiveness of the assembly.

Turning now to the rear truck assembly. 11, it will be seen that it comprises a frame 40 consisting of the generally triangular flat sidewalls 41 and flat front wall 42 joined together at the corners in an integral structure. The bottom of front wall 42 is extended around the apex of the frame as indicated at 43 to form an axle retainer and a transverse wall 44 is formed within the frame spaced above the apex to provide the weight-bearing surface for engagement with the axle 46. The notches 45 are withdrawal notches to facilitate the molding operation. The axle 46, wheels 47 and hub members 48 are identical with those used in the front truck assembly and, therefore, the description thereof need not be repeated here.

Extending across the top of the frame 40 and integrally formed therewith is a heel platform 50 provided with an upwardly projecting wall 51 about its semicircular rear edge forming a heel retainer. The wall 51 is provided with bosses 52 at opposite sides which are apertured as indicated at 53 to form slots for the reception of a holding strap 54. The forward end of platform 50 is indented at 55 to accommodate projection 34 of the front truck assembly when the skate is assembled and thereby provide maximum size adjustment. The

.underside of the platform 50 is ribbed as indicated at 56- and the forward edge is flanged as shown at 57 for strengthening purposes and to provide an improved appearance. The upper surface of platform 50 is longitudinally grooved to match the upper surface of platform 25 of the front truck assembly.

Projecting forwardly from the front wall 42 and integrally formed therewith is a tubular post 60 which preferably is elliptical in cross section and corresponds in its outer diameters to the inner dimensions of the internal opening 33 of the projection .24 of the front truck assembly so as to form a relatively close but free fit therewith. A continuous thread 61 is provided throughout substantially the full length of the post 60 which cooperates with a single turn thread 32 provided within the opening 33 of the projection 24. Consequently, the post 60 of the rear truck assembly 11 may be threadably engaged within the projection 24 of the front truck assembly to form a connecting beam between the front truck assembly and rear truck assembly 11, which provides the sole support and connection between these two assemblies as well as providing for longitudinal size adjustment therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the threads 61 and 32 are of square cross section, i.e., an acme thread which provides maximum strength with minimum play between the parts. Because of the relatively massive dimensions of the projection 24 and its formation as an integral extension of the frame 12 and its cooperation with post 60 extending from frame 40 and threadably engaged in the projection 24, it is assured that a strong connecting beam structure will be provided between the front and rear truck assemblies affording adequate support and imparting desired rigidity to the assembled skate.

Because of the elliptical cross section of the projection 24 and post 60, the two parts will tend to remain in relatively rotated positions with the axles 16 and 46 parallel and will resist turning movement, although turning movement for size adjustment as indicated in FIG. 1 can be accomplished without undue effort by reason of the resilient nature of the plastic material from which the assemblies are formed, and the tubular structure of projection 24 and post 60. To further facilitate the proper alignment of the front truck assembly and rear truck assembly, there is provided within the projection 24 a detent in the form of a rib 62 which cooperates with a longitudinal groove 63 on the post 60, these being located so that the detent will engage in the groove when the truck assemblies are rotated to proper operating positions. In the preferred embodiment, the lead of the threads 61 and 32 is selected so that a single complete turn of the front truck assembly 10 relative to rear truck assembly 11 will provide a longitudinal adjustment of approximately a one-half shoe size, thus assuring that a snug fit can be attained throughout a wide range of shoe sizes.

As in the case of the front truck assembly 10, the rear truck assembly 11 including the frame 40, post 60, platform 50 and heel retainer 51 and except for the strap 54 and the wheel and axle assemblies, is molded as a single integral unit of plastic material providing a durable and strong structure of light weight. No additional parts or elements are required either as supporting structure between the assemblies or for size adjustment.

Because of its simple adjustability features and low cost of manufacture and attractive appearance, the skate is particularly suitable for children of younger age and provides a long-lasting, durable and wear-resistant structure having a long period of usefulness under normal conditions of usage.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a roller skate, a front truck assembly, a rear truck assembly, and a pair of matingly threaded tubular members interconnecting the truck assemblies, said members being non-circular in cross section and being formed of a material of sufficient elasticity to yieldingly permit relative turning of the members.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the mem bers are formed of synthetic plastic material.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the members are elliptical in cross section.

4. A roller skate comprising a front truck assembly integrally formed of plastic material having a tubular frame merging into a tubular rearwardly extending projection and a platform extending across the projection and the frame, and a rear truck assembly integrally formed of plastic material having a frame formed of generally triangular side walls and a front wall, a platform extending across the frame, and a tubular post extending forwardly from said front wall, said post being threadably engaged in said projection to form a longitudinally adjustable beam interconnecting the front and rear truck assemblies, and a wheeled axle supported by each frame.

5. A roller skate comprising longitudinally spaced front and rear truck assemblies, the front truck assembly comprising a tubular frame having fiat parallel side walls merging into a rearwardly extending projection provided with an internally threaded opening, said frame having a shoe platform extending across the top thereof and being supported on a wheeled axle, and the rear truck assembly comprising a box frame formed with flat parallel side walls and having a forwardly projecting threaded post engaged in the threaded opening of the front truck assembly, said frame of the rear truck assembly being supported on a wheeled axle and having a shoe platform extending across the top of the frame in alignment with the platform of the front truck assembly, said roller skate being longitudinally adjustable by turning one truck assembly relative to the other to thread the post of the rear truck assembly inwardly and outwardly of the threaded opening of the front truck assembly.

6. In a roller skate, a front truck assembly, a rear truck assembly, means interconnecting the truck assemblies comprising a pair of mating male and female screw-threaded members, one member being non-rotatably fixed to the front truck assembly and the other member being nonrotatably fixed to the rear truck assembly, said members being telescopically threaded together to form a support between the truck assemblies which is adjustable by relative rotation of the truck assemblies, and detent means on the members interengaging when the truck assemblies are both in upright position for retaining the truck assemblies in adjusted rotated position, said detent means comprising a longitudinally extending groove on one member and a rib on the other member engageable in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 188,833 Budd July 5, 1960 526,655 Johnson Sept. 25, 1894 657,790 ROSS Sept. 11, 1900 917,499 Spacie Apr. 6, 1909 968,427 Simon Aug. 23, 1910 1,342,773 Slawinski June 8, 1920 1,768,228 Wyndham June 24, 1930 2,164,805 Ecton July 4, 1939 2,679,401 Williams May 25, 1954 2,841,405 Jones et al. July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,882 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1910 of 1910 132,983 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1919 

1. IN A ROLLER SKATE, A FRONT TRUCK ASSEMBLY, A REAR TRUCK ASSEMBLY, AND A PAIR OF MATINGLY THREADED TUBULAR MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING THE TRUCK ASSEMBLIES, SAID MEMBERS BEING NON-CIRCULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL OF SUFFICIENT ELASTICITY TO YIELDINGLY PERMIT RELATIVE TURNING OF THE MEMBERS. 